he door like soup. It's only a weak door anyhow."

"Yes," came in Ward's cautious tones, "but that would be destroying
church property, and we could be punished for it. Better try and open a
window, fellows. Bud here knows where there's a weak catch, don't you,
Bud?"

"Huh! I unscrewed the catch myself," came in still another voice;
"that's how it's weak. But we can get in that way easy, boys. If you say
the word, Ted, I'll creep in and open the door in the back, where old
Peter chases his ashes out in Winter time."

"You're the candy-boy, Bud. Do it right away. And we'll be awaitin'
there at the ash door, ready to push in when you open up. Get a move on
you, now."

When Ted spoke in that strain he meant business, and few among his
cronies ever dared hesitate. He ruled his camp followers through sheer
force of brutal instincts; and many a head had ached in consequence of
that bony fist coming in contact with it, when a dispute had to be
settled.

Paul gave a tug at the sleeve of Jack, who, recognizing the signal,
passed it on to William; and in turn he notified the remaining member of
the quartette.

Thus they were presently all in motion, making a careful detour around
the pile of camping material that occupied the middle of the floor. Some
boys seem to be gifted with the remarkable faculty of seeing in the
dark, that a cat enjoys. Jack was of the opinion that his chum must
surely be favored in this way, judging from his success in moving about
through that darkness without tumbling over obstacles.

The furnace room was off the gymnasium. Gaining the door Paul passed
through, and presently came to a number of metal receptacles in which
old Peter stored the ashes until such time as he thought fit to get a
wagon around to take the refuse away.

Most of them were still full and running over, for Peter had kept
putting off his last cleaning up, owing to an attack of rheumatism.

"Every fellow pick out his can and hide behind it," whispered Paul.

When he understood that this had been done he himself slipped back to
the connecting door, intending to watch for the coming of Bud.

Presently sounds proceeded from a window near by, one of the small ones
that in the daytime gave light to the gymnasium. Looking intently in
that quarter, Paul was soon able to make out a moving object; for he had
the sky with its stars and young moon as a background.

Then came a series of grunts, announcing that Bud was pushing his w